Old Rochester Regional Educators Awarded Cape Cod 5 Educational Mini-Grants

Technology Teacher Lisa Lourenco will use her mini-grant to purchase a 3D printer to help create coral plugs and create coral replicas. The coral replicas will be used to help students in Florida learn about native coral species, and the plugs will help to regrow coral in the wild. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)

MATTAPOISETT — Superintendent Michael S. Nelson is pleased to share that five teachers from Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55 have been awarded Cape Cod 5 Education Mini-Grants.

“Thank you to our dedicated staff, who took the time to apply for these vital educational mini-grants,” Superintendent Nelson said. “Our educators have amazing ideas, and these grants help to turn those ideas into real classroom experiences.”

Each year, Cape Cod 5 provides thousands of dollars in mini-grants to fund educational projects pitched by public school teachers in the communities served by the Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55.

Since its inception in 2000, more than 1,800 mini-grants, totaling more than $780,000, have been awarded. Each grant is for an amount up to $500, and given to a local public school teacher to fund an educational project.

“Cape Cod 5 is proud to provide these mini-grants because investing in educators means investing in the future,” said Bert Talerman, Chairman of the Cape Cod 5 Charitable Endowment and President of Cape Cod 5. “These grants empower teachers to bring innovative ideas to life, enriching the learning experience for students and inspiring the next generation of thinkers and leaders. Teachers across the Tri-Town area have come up with impactful projects for their students, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of their creativity.”

In all, 284 teachers from 82 schools throughout Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Southeastern Massachusetts will be receiving a mini-grant this year, funding 208 projects.

Old Rochester Regional High School Teachers Liz Kennedy and Kathleen Brunelle were each awarded a $500 mini-grant. Kennedy’s mini-grant will fund a Touch-a-Truck event in the spring.

“The requested grant will provide our students with invaluable, real-life experience in event planning and family engagement, while also benefiting local families through a fun, hands-on learning event,” Kennedy wrote in her application applying for the grant.

Brunelle applied for $500 to help stage a Shakespearean play in the spring.

Two Center and Old Hammondtown School teachers — Technology Teacher Lisa Lourenco and Art Teacher Greta Anderson — have also been awarded mini-grants.

“We are so excited to have been approved for both of our grants through the Cape Cod 5 Educational Mini-Grant,” Lourenco said. “For the past two years, we have collaborated with Reef Renewal in the Florida Keys to develop 3D objects.”

Lourenco’s class has been creating coral plugs, which are used to grow coral on as well as coral replicas that can be studied in the classroom.

“This year, we are expanding that project to include our third-graders,” Lourenco explained. “Thanks to the Cape Cod 5 Educational Mini-grant, a 3D printer will be purchased that will provide us the opportunity to expand this very worthwhile project.”

Lourenco plans to use the mini-grant to purchase a CrowPi computer, which will be utilized by her fourth through sixth-grade students.

“Using the CrowPi in the classroom will be an exciting experience for our students because it brings hands-on learning in an interactive way,” Lourenco said. “With the use of the Raspberry Pi computer and a variety of sensors, motors, and displays, the CrowPi allows our students to explore coding, robotics, and electronics. Both technologies will cover several curriculum areas in Digital Literacy and Computer Science. I am very excited to have the opportunity this grant has provided to work with these new technologies and to see the excitement of the kiddos.”

Anderson plans to use the funds to help her class explore “Art from Cultures Around the World.”

“Students will explore artwork from other cultures and complete an art project inspired by the artwork they learn about,” Anderson wrote to apply for the mini-grant. “Students will learn about the following cultures and explore artwork from large-format art books to inspire their art projects.”

Kindergartners will study art from India. First graders will focus on Japanese landscape art and create Japanese fans decorated with Japanese-style landscape art. Second-grade students will learn about artwork from Portugal. Third graders will study folk art from Mexico and create Alebrijes (Mexican folk art sculptures) depicting imaginary creatures painted with intense colors and intricate patterns.

The funds will purchase Indian, Mexican, and Japanese artwork books.

At the Sippican School, Librarian Jessica Barrett and Enrichment Teacher Chelsey Lawrence applied for a $320 mini-grant to fund LEGO WeDo Kits.

“Currently, our school is using the outdated LEGO WeDo kits that have become obsolete due to technology and lost pieces,” Barrett explained. “We have been using them for the past six years with great success with all students. This year, we hope to bring the latest LEGO technology to our classrooms with the LEGO Spike Essential kits.”

The Spike kits include lesson plans and materials for students to complete 10 different units with engaging challenges in engineering, science, technology, and creative thinking.

“These units, and the lessons included, align with the NGSS (Next Generation

Science Standards) and ISTE (Instructional Society for Technology in Education) Standards,” Barrett said. “The kits would be used during specialist classes in library and enrichment, and all students in grades 2-6 would participate in using the materials.”

Barrett plans to alternate the use of the kits between library and enrichment classes throughout the course of the school year to ensure equitable access for all students.

“We will seek additional funding to supply the remaining kits that would be needed for full-class Implementation,” Barrett said.

The $320 mini-grant will cover the purchase of one kit, which will be used as a trial kit.

“I can’t wait to see these projects come to life,” Superintendent Nelson said. “We’re all very grateful to Cape Cod 5 for their generous support.”

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